Win Big With Resident Evil Retribution

To celebrate the impending release of Resident Evil Retribution in UK cinemas on September 28th, we've put together the most incredible Resident Evil-themed prize for you to win. Up for grabs in this amazing bundle is:

• 3D TV
• Surround Sound System
• Blu-ray bundle of the first four Resident Evil films (Resident Evil, Apocalypse, Extinction & Afterlife)
• Sony PlayStation 3 160GB
• Resident Evil 6 for PS3

HOW TO ENTER

To be in with a chance of bagging this incredible prize package simply head to the IGN Resident Evil Retribution microsite which you can find here:

http://uk-microsites.ign.com/residentevilretribution/

Watch the video intro from the star of the film Milla Jovovich and then click the orange button marked 'Enter' at the bottom of the screen. You need to submit your details before October 14, 2012 to be in with a chance of winning.

This competition is open to IGN readers in the UK, Hungary, Spain, Sweden and Portugal over the age of 18 only. Head to the competition page for full terms and conditions.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Pokémon News: Catch Genesect!

We're only a few weeks out from the stateside release of Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, the next set of games in the core Pokémon series. To celebrate the October 7 launch of these new games, Nintendo is finally giving players outside Japan the chance to catch the elusive legendary monster Genesect.

I choose you, Genesect!

Anyone who purchases either Pokémon Black 2 or Pokémon White 2 between October 7 and November 12 can receive Genesect simply by connecting to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. It has a signature move called Techno Blast, and is a Bug- and Steel-type Pokémon with the ability to adjust its power levels based on the foe it's battling.

For all things Pokémon, keep it here on IGN - and don't forget to check out our latest Pokémon Profile - this week it's Bulbasaur!

Audrey Drake is an Associate Editor at IGN and a proud member of the IGN Nintendo team. She is also a lifelong gamer, a frequent banisher of evil and a wielder of various legendary blades. You can follow her wild adventures on her IGN blog and Twitter. Game on!

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Resident Evil: Survivial Horror vs. Action

Resident Evil is one of the most beloved survival horror franchises in all of gaming. But ever since the release of Resident Evil 4 - and especially with the release of RE5 - the franchise has taken a decided turn away from it survival roots, becoming more of an action franchise than anything else.

Some gamers love this shift. Some hate it. But which camp is in the right? Today, IGN's retro Resident Evil enthusiast Audrey Drake (me!) and RE5 defender Samuel Claiborn duke it out via e-mail. Check out their arguments, then leave your own thoughts in the comments at the bottom of the page.

Round 1... FIGHT!

Sam's Action Argument, Round 1

From: Samuel J Claiborn

Sent: Friday, September 07, 2012 10:31 AM

To: Audrey Drake

Subject: Re: Resident Evil: Action vs. Survival Horror

Audrey, I'd like to kill the Action vs. Survival Horror argument with a well-placed shot to the head, but it keeps rearing up like a demon crab-thing out of the gaping neck hole.

I view the post-Resident Evil 4 games as fixing the flaws and primitive technology of the originals. Resident Evil had confusing, switching camera angles, an unintuitive pivoting control scheme and crummy, approximate aiming. This caused tension because it was extremely hard - and frustrating - to kill zombies. In Resident Evil 4, zombies are still hard to kill. When you are swarmed by villagers or evil monks, it still causes a lot of tension. If you get overwhelmed, it's because your aim is bad - not because you are pressing up and shooting wildly in the distant corner, but the giant snake isn't taking any damage.

Also, let's get this out of the way now: Resident Evil will never be "scary" again; You were ten years old, that's why it was scary. That's also why I had to cover my eyes with my Care Bear during the Darth Vader scenes in The Empire Strikes Back.

Audrey's Survival Horror Argument, Round 1

First of all, the snake’s name is Yawn. GEEZ. Also, the original game’s controls aren’t on trial here – though I would make the argument that, while now admittedly archaic, the gimped controls were intentionally limited. The original games wouldn’t have been frightening at all if you could move as fluidly as in Mario 64. It made the world more claustrophobic, and yes, more frightening. You really had to think on your feet and work with what you had to make it out alive in those game.

RE4 achieved a brilliant balance – maintaining the heart and soul of the RE universe (firmly residing in the SURVIVAL HORROR camp) while offering updated controls for modern audiences who couldn’t handle the tank controls. Like you. :P It supplemented the new controls by adding more zombies per area, bigger bosses and huge, unforgettable setpieces like the Village, the Castle, etc. What was memorable about RE5? Other than the hot girl and lots of desert, not much. While it was well-made, it was more of a generic action game, lacking the thrills and atmosphere so integral to the RE experience. Why ruin one of the most beloved survival horror franchises of all time by making it something it was never meant to be, just so Capcom can sell a few extra copies? If I want an action game, I’ll play Uncharted. RE4 is as far into action territory as I ever wanted to see that franchise venture. Hell, Revelations was more enjoyable than 5, because it actually felt like Resident Evil.

Also, the only thing frightening about Star Wars is how badly Lucas dropped the ball with the prequels.

Sam's Action Argument, Round 2

So here we are, arguing about Resident Evil 4 vs. Resident Evil 5, which is ridiculous, since the original hubbub over Resident Evil's departure from its roots arose with that very title. If you get in a huff about Resident Evil 5 straying too far from the Resident Evil 4 formula, imagine how fans felt when Resident Evil 4 showed up as a nearly unrecognizable sequel - it had green herbs and typewriters, but that's about it!

Heck, this phrase could have been written by a spurned Resident Evil fan in 2005: "Why ruin one of the most beloved survival horror franchises of all time by making it something it was never meant to be, just so Capcom can sell a few extra copies? If I want an action game, I’ll play Uncharted."

And that's precisely my point. The changes made in Resident Evil 4 made it an awesome action game, wholly distinct from the "survival horror" games that preceded it. And let's be serious -- "survival horror" just means "old-school adventure game on PlayStation in a haunted house."

I don't have a good argument for why Resident Evil 5 is better than Resident Evil 4, because it isn't, but I can say that the direction the series has taken since its switch to action is far more interesting than going back to its  actual "roots."

So we can agree all day on how Resident Evil 4 is great, but it ain't Resident Evil - it was the original offender.

Audrey's Survival Horror Argument, Round 2

It’s true, Sam – RE4 was indeed the genesis of the survival horror vs. action argument. But it’s tantamount to the original game compared to RE5, which didn’t really feel like Resident Evil at all. It might as well have had terrorists gunning you down instead of zombies. At least RE4 still had creepy locations (read: not bathed in sunlight) and tried to get you to jump out of your seat at least once or twice. It also had far less ammo than RE5, placing more emphasis on the “survival” element. And the heavy action sequences were usually spurred by giant creatures rather than typical action fare like car chases. Having no partner also lent to the atmosphere, which RE5 totally killed by having a hot chick feeding you herbs and tossing you ammo all the time.

In that sense, while it was certainly the first step in the franchise’s move toward being an all-out action game – I’d argue that RE4 was still a survival horror game, albeit with action elements. RE5, on the other hand, is an action game with zombies for some reason. The difference, while perhaps subtle, is that survival horror games seek to set a certain tone, an atmosphere of tension and unseen horror that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Whether or not it’s actually “scary” isn’t even really the point – it’s that tension, that adrenaline, that keeps survival horror fans coming back for more. That’s what separates it as its own genre.

And that’s why, even though it’s a well-made game, RE5 left me angry and dissatisfied. Take away the tension, (the survival horror element, in other words) and all you have is a B movie featuring enemies with severely bad skin. And the downfall of a truly classic franchise.

Is this Resident Evil, or a poster for a bad action movie?

Sam's Final Say

I consider you a friend Audrey, so you can call Resident Evil 4 a "survival horror" game just because it has less ammo, car chases and Sheva, but I am going to continue to secretly think of it as the first game in a new series of action-based Resident Evil games. Resident Evil 5 may mark the "downfall of a truly classic franchise," but Resident Evil 4 kicked the series over a cliff - a really awesome cliff where you can shoot at stuff while you fall!

Audrey's Final Say

I respect you, your mustache and your opinion, Sam - so we'll end the argument here. We seem to disagree on the oft-contended definition of the survival horror genre, but the important thing is, we both agree that RE4 kicks serious ass! As for RE5, the only thing we seem to agree on is that we disagree. While I appreciate smooth controls and solid action, I still won't waste my time on an entry in the series that is devoid of that signature atmosphere us RE fans love to fear. The series helped define a genre that RE5 forsook by taking the action elements too far - and in my book, that's a true gaming sin. Gimme atmosphere and a slower pace any day.

Who do you agree with? Did we miss any points? Leave only your most evil thoughts on the survival horror vs. action debate in the comments section below!

Audrey Drake is an Associate Editor at IGN and a proud member of the IGN Nintendo team. She is also a lifelong gamer, a frequent banisher of evil and a wielder of various legendary blades. You can follow her wild adventures on her IGN blog and Twitter. Also, it’s okay if you disagree with her. You’ll live. More importantly - game on!

Samuel Claiborn is an IGN editor and professional video game cheater. TCELES B HSUP to follow him on Twitter and on IGN.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Win A 46" 3DTV And PlayStation 3 With Medal Of Honor: Warfighter

Ahead of Medal Of Honor: Warfighter's October 26th release, we're launching a new competition to give you the chance to win some incredible hardware. For the last few weeks IGN readers were given the opportunity to choose your ultimate gaming prize and the voting has now closed.

We're happy to announce that we're giving away a 46-inch 3DTV and a PlayStation 3 so that you can play EA's upcoming shooter as it was intended to be played - on a massive screen with the volume turned up to the max!

HOW TO ENTER

If you want to get involved all you need to do is head to...

http://uk-microsites.ign.com/medalofhonor/ 

...and click on the competition link at the very top of the page then click on the button marked Enter.

You've got until 10am on September 18 2012 to submit your details, so what are you waiting for soldier?

This competition is open to UK residents over the age of 18 only, with full terms and conditions on the competition page.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Resident Evil 6 release date eviscerated as the game becomes available a month early. For the price of a flight to Poland

Resident Evil 6's release date is currently scheduled for the 2nd of October 2012. It is however, already being sold and played in Poland. This is not an official turn of events and Capcom is not happy about it one little bit.

Originating in a post on Polish gaming site NeoGo, the story goes that a few full-blown retail copies turned up for sale in the city of Poznan. There was no initial explanation of their availability, but Capcom has since clarified that they made their way to the vendors in question by way of a five-finger discount. ie. Unsolicited long-term loan. ie. Theft. 

Sayeth Capcom to Eurogamer:

"Capcom is currently undertaking a thorough investigation into reports that Resident Evil 6 is being sold ahead of its official October 2 release date"

"At this time, all we can add is that it would appear this unfortunate incident is limited to a small quantity of stolen copies of the German USK PlayStation 3 version of the game"

No word yet on where the copies were stolen from or exactly how their liberators got hold of them. Or in fact, whether Capcom will be taking action against the shops or purchasers involved. Though the former is probably far more likely than the latter. 

Source : gamesradar[dot]com

Report: New Potential Wii U Release Details Appear

New details have leaked about potential SKUs, prices and dates for the release of the Wii U which seem to conflict with what we’ve previously heard.

While we’ve heard multiple reports in the past that suggest Nintendo’s console will arrive in North America on November 18, today’s listing suggests it’ll actually be on November 11.

That's according to a listing spotted on Video Product Distributors, which is a distribution company that supplies Amazon, Blockbuster and Overstock.

According to an entry on the site, the Wii U will become available in North America on November 11. Three SKUs are listed:

• WIIU SYSTEM - GM - 11/11/12 $249.99
• WIIU SYSTEM W/ - GM - 11/11/12 $299.99
• WIIU SYSTEM 349 W/ - GM - 11/11/12 $349.99

While we don't know precisely what each one involves, presumably the $299.99 and $349.99 versions will contain either some extra games or other peripherals like an additional GamePad to justify the beefed up price. To see the entry you'd normally need a trade login, but thankfully a YouTube user has recorded a shot of the page that reveals all.

We've been hit by a slew of information previously that the Wii U would launch on November 18, but this was thrown into confusion last week when peripheral maker PDP denied it had knowledge of the console's release date.

So where does this leave us? Well, it may muddy the waters as to the exact release date of Nintendo's new console, but it seems increasingly likely that the Wii U is destined for a November release. Both November 11 and 18 are Sundays as well, which has been the day that Nintendo traditionally favours for console releases: the Wii launched on Sunday, November 19, 2006 while the GameCube debuted on Sunday, November 18, 2001.

With a Wii U press event taking place in New York on Thursday, September 13, it thankfully doesn't seem like we'll have to wait much longer for some concrete answers.

Thanks, NintendoLife.

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Editorial Assistant. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

To the Moon Steam release date announced

Freebird Games has announced that their well-regarded adventure game, To The Moon, will be coming to Steam extremely soon. The official release date being revealed today is coming up in under a week on September 7, 2012.

To The Moon is one of those games that constantly gets brought up in the much-reviled "Games as Art" conversations. It's an adventure game that plays with the conventions of the genre while dealing with themes like death and regret.

It was originally released in November 2011 and was created using the RPG Maker engine. 

Source : gamesradar[dot]com

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith 3D Opening Back-to-Back

As Star Wars Celebration VI came to an end Sunday, there was one last reveal: The release dates for not just Attack of the Clones 3D but Revenge of the Sith 3D as well., during the Celebration closing ceremonies.

When The Phantom Menace 3D opened in February this year, it was with the assumption that each Star Wars film would get a 3D re-release a year apart – likely around the same time of year.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars – New Republic Commando Scene from Season 5

The first surprise was that there’s a longer wait for Attack of the Clones than expected – the 3D version won’t be out until September 20th, 2013. But the bigger surprise was that Revenge of the Sith 3D will be opening just three weeks later, on October 11th, 2013.

The Clone Wars Introducing Mustafar, Black Sun and More

No reason was given for opening the films so close together this time around, though the dates were revealed in a very amusing manner: Via a video of The Emperor himself, Ian McDiarmid, saying the date, only for George Lucas – who it turned out was sitting beside him – to tell him to repeat what he said, “Faster and more intense.”

George Lucas’s Surprise Appearance at Star Wars Celebration

During the closing ceremonies, the sizzle reel for Attack of the Clones 3D was shown again, along with a new addition – the first moments of the space battle over Coruscant that begin Revenge of the Sith, converted into 3D. You can read my thoughts on the Attack of the Clones 3D footage by clicking here, but I will say that this tease of that scene from Sith – which was always visually stunning – was pretty spectacular, hinting that Sith, like Clones, has undergone a very impressive 3D conversion that is far superior to the one The Phantom Menace had.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Change The Law And Win Big With Dredd 3D

To celebrate the upcoming release of the awesome Dredd 3D on September 7, 2012 (read the glowing IGN Review of Dredd 3D here) we've put together the most awesome Judge Dredd prize bundle known to man for you to try and win!

Up for grabs over the coming weeks is:

• Win your own private screening of Dredd 3D at your local Cineworld Cinema in RealD 3D
• A replica Judge Dredd helmet prop from PlanetReplicas.com
• Three replica Judge Dredd Lawmaker gun props from PlanetReplicas.com
• Four replica Judge Dredd Metal Badge props from PlanetReplicas.com
• Five copies of Judge Dredd Complete Case Files V1
• Five copies of The Best of 2000AD
• Fifty copies Dredd, a specially produced comic prequel

Real D 3D has teamed up with Cineworld to produce limited edition Dredd 3D glasses, which the screening winners will be able to claim at their free screening.

HOW TO ENTER

Entering this amazing prize draw couldn't be easier. All you need to do is follow @IGNUK on Twitter and tell us, if you were a Judge for a day, what law would you want to enforce?

It could be a ban on the music of Nickelback or the legal enforcing of high-fives as the standard greeting in the UK - whatever you like - you are the LAW!

Submit your suggestions to us via Twitter using the Hashtag #IAMTHELAW any time between now and 10am on the film's release date of September 7th 2012.

We'll be picking winners throughout the next three weeks at random times, so feel free to enter every day! This competition is open to UK residents only (sorry!) over the age of 18 with full terms and conditions on the next page.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Revisiting Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

Resident Evil 6's October release date is now only a month and a half away, so we're ramping up our project to replay all of the company's older efforts in storyline order. We first looked back at Resident Evil Zero in April, and in May we replayed the original 1996 adventure via its 2002 GameCube remake. Last month, we returned to Raccoon City by revisiting Resident Evil 2. Now it's time for Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.

Meeting your Worst Nightmare

As the first and only numbered Resident Evil sequel to have a subtitle attached to its name, everyone knew going into this third PlayStation adventure that something about "Nemesis" was going to be critically important to the game. Capcom made it even more obvious by placing the hulking, nightmare-inducing beast front and center on the game's packaging – the Nemesis was your enemy. Your singular foe. The villain so overwhelming that the entire duration of this latest RE title would be spent trying to take him down – or, more likely, just running away in abject terror.

It was a defining design decision that Capcom made, and it worked beautifully. Whereas the terror in the first two Resident Evil games was mostly centered on the hundreds of zombies lurking around every corner of the Mansion and the Raccoon City streets, Resident Evil 3 totally refocused its fright factor by building up this one, relentless, nearly omnipresent creature. The Nemesis was the most powerful zombie ever – he just couldn't be killed. And even worse than that immortality was the fact that he broke so many rules.

Survival horror games are meant to be scary, of course, and players know to prepare for shocks and surprises going in – but there's still a kind of comfort to be had in the knowledge of how most of these enemies are going to behave. The Nemesis, though, took even those small comforts away. He could run just as fast as your character, which broke the rule of zombies being slow and giving you time to react. He could assault you from afar with a rocket launcher, which broke the rule of zombies only being able to hurt you in close quarters. Worst of all, he could follow you through doors. That broken rule was the hardest of all to handle. We never knew how much we relied on the simple technical boundaries of loading screens protecting us from attacks until that first time we leapt through a nearby door, tried to catch our breath, and then saw the Nemesis come charging straight through to continue his hunt for "STAAAAAAARRRRRSSSSS!"

Frying Pan, or Fire?

Run-ins with the iconically scary Nemesis happened continuously throughout Resident Evil 3, as just when you thought you left him behind he'd pop up again at the most inconvenient time, in the most inconvenient place, to once again try to eat your brain. Capcom took the opportunity of these unique encounters to do something new with gameplay. You wouldn't just walk into a room and find the Nemesis sitting around waiting to battle you again – instead, you almost always got a choice of how to react to his appearances.

Called the "Live Selection" system, the game would briefly freeze and flash in black and white at these critical moments, then give you a quick on-screen choice between two alternative actions. Would you rather stand and fight, or turn and run? Would you like to go left, or go right? Memories of old Choose Your Own Adventure books and even the classic Dragon's Lair arcade game might have occurred to some players, except none of us really had the time to sit and think – because if you didn't pick an option within just a few seconds, the game would decide that your indecisiveness must be punished. Usually by Jill getting seriously hurt, or even instantly killed.

The RE series has never again used this specific type of reaction mechanic, but from a certain perspective, it could be seen as a precursor to the fast-button-input Quick Time Events that began to appear later on in Resident Evil 4.

The Mercenaries

Another way Resident Evil 3 paved the way for its subsequent sequels was with its introduction of a new minigame called "The Mercenaries - Operation: Mad Jackal." Fans of the franchise will recognize the name, as a shortened version – just "The Mercenaries" – was used for minigames in both Resident Evil 4 and 5. It even got spun-off into its own standalone retail release with last year's Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D for Nintendo's 3DS.

Those later versions and their focus on taking down tons of zombies to rack up high scores have little in common with RE3's original version, though, as Operation: Mad Jackal was more of a time attack game. You'd pick to play as one of three commando characters from the game's main storyline – Carlos, Mikhail or Nicholai – and try to make it from one starting point to an end goal in another part of Raccoon City in just two minutes. Running straight there was impossible, though – you'd always run out of time. So along the way you'd have to take down zombies and assist uninfected survivors to score time bonuses, extending the countdown and giving you enough extra seconds to make it to the finish line.

Gameplay Refinements

As the third and final Resident Evil title for the original PlayStation, RE3 represented the pinnacle of the series' design on its originating platform. Its foundations were firmly the same as RE1 and 2 – the same tank-like control scheme, pre-rendered backgrounds and all the rest of the series' hallmarks were found here once again. But lots of little tweaks and upgrades made the cut for this final PSone outing.

You could activate a new dodge maneuver to avoid zombie attacks, using proper timing to sidestep their hungry lunges and save yourself the trouble of having to use up quite so many Green Herbs. You could walk up and down staircases without needing to press an action button to do so – an improvement that greatly benefited the game's overall flow. And, crucially, you could now execute fast, 180-degree turns on the spot. Capcom had actually first introduced that little move in the RE-esque Dino Crisis, but it proved to be truly invaluable with the Nemesis hot on your heels through Raccoon City.

Oh, and then there was the gunpowder. For some reason, Resident Evil 3 went nuts for gunpowder. You didn't really upgrade your weapons much in this one – instead you'd find all sorts of gunpowder containers all over the city and you'd mix them together to create better and better ammunition. It was another unique addition to the series, but also another one that hasn't ever been used again.

The Impact of Nemesis

That's the thing about Resident Evil 3: Nemesis – it's arguably the most unique and individual of all the numbered RE games. We've tried to pin down the potential impact of each installment on the new RE6 with each of these articles, but with Nemesis it's a question mark. So many of its elements seem destined to stay locked into just this one game – the focus on a singular foe, the "Live Selection" choices, the gunpowder mixing. If anything, the thing that will probably carry forward into 6 will be the ridiculously impractical costumes for our playable heroes – have you seen the tube top and mini-skirt they stuck Jill in for this game?

If you want to go back and experience Nemesis for yourself before RE6 arrives, you've got just about the same array of options as you did for RE2. There's the original PlayStation release from 1999. Then there's a series of ports to PC, to the Dreamcast and to the GameCube – though the Cube version didn't exactly find many fans thanks to its inflated pricetag back in 2003. PlayStation Network's also got it up for download, for all you PS3 and PSP owners out there. But we'll end by reitirating the same sentiment from last time – Capcom, we'd love a modern remake of this adventure at some point. Surely you're not too scared to bring back the Nemesis, right?

Lucas M. Thomas still plays Resident Evil games with the lights on. You're not going to change his mind about that. Join him on his IGN blog and Twitter.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Psychonauts coming to PSN as PS2 classic

Sony announced today via the PlayStation Blog that the Double Fine classic platformer Psychonauts will be returning to modern consoles via a release on the PlayStation Network as a PS2 classic.

Though some have derided Psychonauts for its technical issues, many other critics have long praised its imagination and unique vision. The Tim Schafer classic features a young psychic named Raz who enters the minds of his camp counselers to unravel the mystery behind the Whispering Rock Summer Camp for psychic children.

Each level was based on the psyche of each particular character like the conspiracy-obsessed Milkman (the most memorable stage of the game) and the non-stop party inside the mind of Sasha Nein.

Psychonauts will be releasing on the PSN next Tuesday, August 28. It has previously been released on the Xbox, PS2, PC, Mac, and Linux.

Source : gamesradar[dot]com

I am Alive PC release announced by Ubisoft

Ubisoft announced today in a press release that their survival horror title I am Alive will be expanding to PC later this year. The PC release will also introduce two new modes to the experience: Easy Mode and Replay Mode.

The former, as you might have guessed, aims to make the experience a bit more pleasant, allowing the player infinite retries and a smoother introduction to the experience. While Replay Mode allows players to replay levels to seek out new secrets and hidden items.

Originally released on Xbox Live Arcade earlier this year in March and introduced players to a very different kind of survival horror than the Resident Evil-esque fare the industry grew up on. Though occasionally frustrating and even dull, we found it to be a worthwhile experiencethanks mostly to how unique and unforgiving and realistic it is.

The announcement comes just a day after Ubisoft announced that their piracy rate on PC is close to 95%. Apparently, that astounding rate still isn't harming their ability to do business on the platform.

Source : gamesradar[dot]com

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron not available on PC in Australia

Neither Autobots nor Decepticon will be rolling out across gaming's entire hardware spectrum, as Activision has announced that Transformers: Fall of Cybertron won't see a release on the PC platform in Australia.

A media release sent by Activision heralding the game's launch was sent to outlets, before an updated version was offered minutes later. In its revision, PC was removed from the available platforms, the change highlighted by a simple note: 

"Please be advised that TRANSFORMERS: FALL OF CYBERTRON will not be available on PC in Australia."

The PC is no stranger to the-platform-is-dead naysaying, while Australia has experienced its share of region-specific knocks. However, it's disappointing to see a hefty one-two punch come from a publisher such as Activision on a title with such wide appeal.

We've reached out to Activision for additional comment, and will update this story when we know more.

Source : gamesradar[dot]com

Nintendo Hosting Wii U Press Event in September

In less than a month, Nintendo will finally reveal more information about its forthcoming console, Wii U - hopefully including that long-awaited release date and price. Today the company sent out invitations to select media outlets, confirming that a Wii U preview event will take place in New York on Thursday, September 13 from 10:00am to 4:00pm EDT.

The presentation will be led by Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime, and will apparently shed light on "how the Wii U will change the future of gaming and entertainment." Since it's getting pretty late in the year for the console that was promised a global launch by the end of 2012, we can only assume official launch information will also be divulged at that time.

When can you get your hands on the GamePad? We'll know soon enough.

Although we can't say for sure, it's a good bet that Wii U will hit store shelves this November, considering Nintendo's past two console releases (the GameCube and Wii) arrived in North America on November 18 and November 19 respectively. Rumors and purported leaks seem to support this theory, though recent speculation of manufacturing problems has suggested the launch might actually miss Black Sunday and arrive in December instead.

Hopefully we'll know for sure following this September event - until then, keep it here on IGN for all the latest Wii U happenings.

Audrey Drake is an Associate Editor at IGN and a proud member of the IGN Nintendo team. She is also a lifelong gamer, a frequent banisher of evil and a wielder of various legendary blades. You can follow her wild adventures on her IGN blog and Twitter. Game on!

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Exclusive: Solomon Kane Alt Poster Debut

In anticipation of the video-on-demand release of Michael J. Bassett's long-awaited Solomon Kane movie, IGN has a groovy new alternative poster for the film from Radius-TWC. Check out the image below:

Based on the books by pulp-era writer and Conan the Barbarian creator Robert E. Howard, the story centers on Solomon Kane, "a brutally efficient 16th Century killing machine. Armed with his signature pistols, cutlass and rapier, he and his men unleash their bloodlust as they fight for England in war after war on all continents." The film stars James Purefoy in the title role.

Solomon Kane will be available on VOD this Friday, August 24, and hits theaters Sept. 28.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Check Out a Deleted Scene From The Avengers

The Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One Blu-ray box set and The Avengers Blu-ray are just over one month away. In anticipation of this massive release, Marvel/Disney have been slowly unveiling little teases to keep fans enticed, including a sneak peek at the new Marvel short, Item  47:

Today, another tease popped up on EW in the form of an extended scene. You may recall that odd exchange between Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) and the security guard (played by the legendary Harry Dean Stanton) following the action set piece on the hellicarrier in which Banner "Hulked" out. It should come as no surprise that this exchange originally lasted a little longer. Take a look:

What do you think? Good call that they deleted the scene, or bad call? Sound off in the forums below.

"Enough! You are, all of you, beneath me! I am a god, you dull creature, and I shall not be bullied..." Become a friend of R.L. Shaffer on Twitter, Facebook or MyIGN for quotes, rants, reviews, news and more!

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Who Should Voice Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy?

Ever since Marvel Studios confirmed that they were making a Guardians of the Galaxy movie for a summer 2014 release, fans have naturally been speculating who should play the characters on the big screen. But no member of the sci-fi team's been more talked about than Rocket Raccoon, the Guardians' walking, talking and ass-kicking alien animal.

The character's been brought to life recently in both an episode of The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes! animated series as well as in the video game Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (voiced in both versions of British actor Greg Ellis). While it's certainly possible that Ellis could also be hired to voice Rocket Raccoon for the live-action feature film, it's probably more likely that Marvel will hire a more recognizable actor to voice the role.

Will the movie retain the recent Cockney-accented version of Rocket Raccoon or will he talk like an American tough guy instead? We've assembled a list of candidates we think would be good for the role. Have a listen to their voice samples below and then cast your vote in our poll!

Ray Winstone

This stocky, razor-voiced character actor is known to you for his roles in The Departed, Sexy Beast, Beowulf, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Proposition, and Hugo.

Jason Statham

Just imagine Rocket Raccoon kicking ass as he speaks with the voice of the star of The Transporter and The Expendables.

Bob Hoskins

This is certainly a long shot seeing as how Hoskins recently retired from acting due to ill health, but if Marvel could lure him back for just a voice-over role that would be great. Hoskins was one of the screen's first and foremost Cockney blokes to breakthrough in leading roles.

Tom Hardy

Before you go off on a Bane-sized rant about this idea, may we remind you that Hardy's raspy British accent is one of his most distinguishing characteristics? We imagine his Rocket Raccoon sounding less like Bane and more like Bronson:

Ian McShane

Imagine ... just imagine ... Rocket Raccoon voiced by Al Swearengen. Check out this more work-safe sample of McShane's pipes

Robert De Niro

De Niro's been lampooning his tough guy image for awhile now, and is no stranger to genre fare (Rocky & Bullwinkle, Stardust) or voiceover work (Shark Tale), so why not let him go from Raging Bull to Rocket Raccoon?

James Gandolfini

Tony Soprano ... in space. You're welcome.

Ron Perlman

Who the hell doesn't love Ron Perlman? This baritone-voiced badass from Hellboy and Sons of Anarchy would be a great pick to voice Rocket.

Willem Dafoe

This Spider-Man and John Carter actor's gravelly voice is one of his trademarks, and he could bring a real personality to Rocket Raccoon.

Vin Diesel

He's the voice of The Iron Giant. He's Riddick. He's fast and furious, just like Rocket Raccoon. So why not?

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Jurassic Park 3D Gets Bumped Up to Spring

Universal Pictures has recently changed up several of its release dates for 2013, including Steven Spielberg's 3D release of Jurassic Park. The 1993 adventure film will now be hitting theaters in the spring, moving from July 18 to April 5.

Additionally, The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Ryan Reynolds' zombie flick R.I.P.D. will take over the July 19 slot, leaving behind its original June 28 frame.

The studio has also set release dates for About Time (May 10), Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall (June 28) and 2 Guns (August 16).

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love on Twitter and IGN.

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Avatar Coming Soon to Blu-ray 3D

While Avatar has been available on Blu-ray 3D as an exclusive release with Panasonic 3DTVs for some time, the $2.7 billion dollar hit has yet to have been made widely available on the format -- an odd choice given the film is easily one of the best showcases of 3D out there.

At current, the disc sells on marketplaces like eBay and Amazon for about $60-150! With Avatar's Panasonic deal ending this year, however, it was only a matter of time before an official release would be announced.

As it turns out, James Cameron himself made the announcement today, via Avatar's Facebook page. Check out the video below:

There's no word yet on full specs or bonus features, or whether this retail version of the Blu-ray 3D will include the various extended/alternate cuts of the film. James Cameron didn't mention an exact release date, either.

Hopefully it won't be September 18th or 25th. Those days are crowded enough as it is, with titles like Alfred Hitchock: The Masterpiece Collection, Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures, Cabin in the Woods, Bond 50 and, of course, the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One box set, as well as The Avengers and many, many others.

Naturally, we'll keep you posted on any news regarding this release. Expect a more detailed announcement soon.

Holy Social Networks, readers! Now you can follow R.L. Shaffer on Twitter, Facebook orMyIGN for quotes, rants, reviews, news and more!

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Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Professor Layton Miracle Mask Dates

Nintendo has announced release dates for the 3DS and DS fall line-up. First up is Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone on October 1st, followed by Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask on October 28th and Paper Mario: Sticker Star on November 11th.

Release dates were also revealed for Crosswords Plus, Freakyforms Deluxe and more, as seen on the release calendar below:

• Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone - October 1st
• Crosswords Plus - October 1st
• Sparkle Snapshots 3D - October 18th
• Skylanders Giants - October 21st
• Style Savvy: Trendsetters - October 22nd
• Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask - October 28th
• Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive - November 5th
• Paper Mario: Sticker Star - November 11th
• Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion - November 18th
• Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed - November 20th

Titles without concrete release dates include FIFA 13 in September, Angry Birds Trilogy in October, Scribblenauts Unlimited this holiday and Rayman Origins in the third quarter of 2012. A complete list of planned titles for 3DS and DS - including Imagine Babyz and more - can be found on Nintendo’s full release calendar.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.

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